NORTHRIDGE, Calif. (May 12, 2023) - The UC Santa Barbara softball team (26-21, 13-13 Big West) dropped both games of their doubleheader against CSUN. The Gauchos lost on a heartbreaking two-out single in the bottom of the seventh in game one. In game two UC Santa Barbara drew first blood, but the Matadors scored eight unanswered to win the game. 

GAME ONE: GAUCHOS 2, MATADORS 3
The Matadors gained an early lead in the top of the first after they plated two runs on three hits. After allowing the two runs Camryn Snyder settled in and did not allow a run over her next five innings of work. Snyder finished with a stat line of 6.2 innings pitched, three earned runs, and four strikeouts. 

After a scoreless second inning by both teams the Gauchos broke into the run column. Back-to-back one-out singles by Madelyn McNally and Sam Denehy put UC Santa Barbara in business. Ashley Donaldson reached on a fielders choice, but an errant throw scored McNally and the Gauchos cut the lead in half. Snyder worked out of some danger in the third and the Santa Barbara offense got back to work. 

In the top of the fourth a two-out triple by Makayla Newsom drove in Jazzy Santos to tie the game at two apiece. Santa Barbara came out of the fourth with all the momentum on their side. Snyder continued to throw up zeros on the scoreboard holding the game at two a side. 

UC Santa Barbara threatened in the fifth with runners on first and third with one out, but could not come up with the hit they needed as the next two hitters struck out and flied out to end the inning. 

The Gauchos again threatened in the seventh. Two hard hit balls off the bats of McNally and Denehy found the gloves of Matador fielders, but Donaldson extended the inning with a double to right field and later advancing to third on a pass ball. Again the Gauchos looked for a clutch hit but would come up empty with another hard hit ball finding a CSUN glove. 

The Gauchos recorded two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and a runner on first it looked as if Santa Barbara would find themselves in their second consecutive extra-inning game. The CSUN runner would steal second and get into scoring position. Down to their last strike, the CSUN hitter singled through the middle driving in the winning run in. 

GAME TWO: GAUCHOS 1, MATADORS 8
The Gauchos scored first in game two of the doubleheader, picking up right where they left off in game one. McNally and Denny recorded back-to-back singles and each stole a base to put them at second and third with no on out. Donaldson hit a sac fly to left field to drive in the run. Unfortunately that is all they would get in the inning as the next two batters were set down. 

Malaya Johnson worked a 1-2-3 inning in the first and got out of some trouble in the second to preserve the 1-0 lead for the Gauchos. In the bottom of the third the Matadors pushed five runs across on four hits, while the Gaucho defense committed one error in the inning. 

After a shaky first half of the game for the Matador starter settled in and did not allow a run over the subsequent six frames. CSUN then put up three runs on three hits in the fifth to extend their lead to 8-1. The Gauchos could not generate any more offense and fell 8-1 in game two. 

UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara and CSUN will conclude their series tomorrow with a single game starting at 1 p.m. at Matador Diamond.